MUMBAI, March 17 (Reuters) – India’s middle-order batter KL Rahul struck an unbeaten 75 to anchor their nervy chase towards Australia in a low-scoring contest and safe a five-wicket win within the opening one-day worldwide on Friday.

Chasing 189 for victory on a spicy pitch, India slumped to 39-4 however Rahul’s unbroken 108-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja guided them house with 10.1 overs to spare.

Earlier, India’s bowlers, complemented by some glorious catching, bundled out Australia for 188 inside 36 overs on the Wankhede Stadium.

Mitchell Marsh, returning to worldwide cricket after ankle surgical procedure, smashed 81 off 65 balls however his exit triggered a collapse.

With India’s common captain Rohit Sharma absent resulting from household commitments, Hardik Pandya gained the toss and elected to subject on the Wankhede Stadium.

By the second over, India had drawn first blood.

Travis Head, who made 5, charged out towards Mohammed Siraj however ended up deflecting the ball onto his stumps.

Marsh steadied the ship with a 72-run stand with Steve Smith, who’s main Australia within the absence of Pat Cummins who stayed again in Sydney following the dying of his mom.

David Warner additionally missed the match via damage although Australia anticipate the opener to play within the subsequent two ODIs.

Smith made 22 earlier than Pandya eliminated him caught behind.

Marsh, in his first knock as an ODI opener, hit 10 fours and 5 sixes and Australia appeared fairly comfy at 129-2 within the twentieth over earlier than the wheels got here off their innings.

Jadeja eliminated Marsh and took a surprising catch to ship again Marnus Labuschagne (15) earlier than Mohammed Shami’s triple strike derailed Australia.

Josh Inglish (26), changing an unwell Alex Carey at wicketkeeper, dragged the ball onto his stumps, Cameron Green (12) had his off-stump uprooted and Marcus Stoinis (5) perished within the slip.

Glenn Maxwell made eight on his return from a damaged leg and Mohammed Siraj (3-29) dismissed the scoreless Sean Abbott and Adam Zampa in successive overs as Australia folded in 35.4 overs.

India’s begin was even worse and their prime 4 had been again within the hut inside 11 overs after Mitchell Starc (3-49) struck three blows that included the prized wicket of Virat Kohli, who managed 4.

Rahul added 44 runs with Pandya to arrest the slide and killed off the competition together with his collaboration with Jadeja, who remained not out on 45, which included the profitable boundary.

The second match is scheduled in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, whereas Chennai hosts the ultimate ODI on Wednesday.

India gained the previous four-test sequence 2-1.

Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Ken Ferris

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.